Wrench



W. M. STOVALL.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION men mm. s. 1920.

1,3 1,923, Patented 1m 14, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. STOVALL, OF CLALLAM BAY, WASHINGTON.

WRENCH.

To a]? whom it may concern Be it known that T, \Vnmm M M. S'IUVALL, a citizen of the United States. residing at (lallam liay, in the county of lallam and State. of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in renches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a wrench, and has for its object the construction of a simple and efiicient wrench that is adapted for dif ferent purposes or uses, by reason of the detachable structure of the jaws from the shank.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a wrench that is provided with cam means of a peculiar structure, whereby a. powerful grip can be secured by the jaws.

lVith these and other objects in view, my

- invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, illustrated in the accompan ing drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved wrench.

*ig. 2 is a fragmentary edge view of the wrench showing particularly the connection of the primary aw with the shank or handle.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the connecting bolt.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the pair of pipe jaws used in constructing my wrench.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shank or handle of the wrench.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the shank or handle which is provided with a cam portion 2 at its inner end, the cam portion 2 being bifurcated at 3 (Fig. 2), through which bifurcated portion are formed registering apertures 4; in these apertures 4 is positioned the connecting bolt 5; it is to be noted (Figs. 1 and 5) that the cam portion 2 extends rearwardly and parallel with one edge of the handle 1. In one side of the handle 1 and the cam portion 2 is formed a guiding groove 6, in which is slidably mounted the locking plate 7 this locking plate 7 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided with a rip portion 8 and with an elon ated slot 9 having an enlarged end 10. The end 10 of slot 9 is su fliciently large to permit the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

1920. Serial No. 363,613.

head 11 of bolt 5 to pass therethrough, but when the locking plate is moved inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, causing the narrowest part of slot 9 to be positioned under the head 11, then the bolt 5 is locked against displacement. thereby holding the prunary jaw 12 pivotally mounted upon the shank or bolt 5. The locking plate 7 is retained in position upon the handle and its cam portion by means of a fastening member 13: the member 13 permit-s sliding action of the plate within the groove 6.

Pivotally mounted at let, upon the primarv jaw 12, is the auxiliary jaw 15. The auxiliary jaw 15 is provided with a rearwardlyextending end 16, which end 16 is provided with an inner, curved face 17, over which face 17 the cam portion 2 is adapted to ride as the handle 1 is pivoted upon bolt 5, thereby causing the auxiliary jaw 15 to pivot at its pivot or connecting point 14, more rigidly gripping the object that is placed between the jaws. This clamping action caused by the swinging handle is clear] Y illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. f the jaws are moved substantially at right angles to handle 1 so that the inner end 12* of the primary jaw 12 en ages the notched portion 18 formed on the front face of the cam 2, then the strain on the wrench, by reason of an object being gripped between the jaws, is distributed practically off the connecting bolt 5 and is distributed partly on the inner end of the primary jaw and the cam portion of the handle of the wrench to be pulled by the operator having hold of the handle 1, in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrows in Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that the reduced inner end 12 of the primary jaw 12 extends into the bifurcated portion 3 of the cam portion 2 (Fig. 2), through which projects the connecting bolt 5.

The jaws shown in Fig. 1 are provided with straight faces 19, particularly adapted for gripping nuts and the like, whereas in Fig. 4, the jaws are provided with toothed curved faces 20 particularly adapted for gripping pipe or tubing or the like. To further assist in an eflicient action of clamping the object being worked upon, I may employ a bolt 21 threaded through the primary jaw (Fig. 4) behind the pivot point 14.

It will be understood that the jaws shown in Figs. 1 and 1 can quickly be attached to the handle 1 by merely sliding the locking plate inwardly in the groove 6, permitting the head 11 of the bolt 5 to be placed in the large portion 10 of the slot 9; then re moving the bolt and substituting whichever primary jaw that is desired, reinserting the bolt in the registering apertures, and sliding the locking plate to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the new pair of jaws is locked upon the handle in a position to perform the desired work.

While I have described the preferredembodiments of my invention, certain minor changes or alterations may be found advisable in the extensive manufacture of my improved wrench, and, therefore, I reserve the right to make such alterations or changes as shall appeal to one skilled in the art to ,which this invention relates, which shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a wrench of the class described, the combination of a handle provided at its inner end with a cam portion extending rearwardly and parallel with one edge of the handle, said cam portion provided with a bifurcated portion formed in its inner end or face, said bifurcated portion of the cam portion provided with apertures, a bolt positioned in said apertures, a .primary jaw provided with an extension on its inner end pivotally mounted on said bolt within the bifurcated portion of the cam portion, an auxiliary jaw pivotally mounted entirely upon the primary jaw, and said auxiliary jaw provided at its inner end with a curved inner face adapted to travel over the outer face of the cam portion for moving the jaws at their outer ends toward each other.

2. In a wrench of the class described, the combination with a handle provided at its inner end with a cam portion, said cam portion extending rearwardly and parallel with one edge of the handle, said cam portion provided with a bifurcation at its front edge, a primary jaw provided with an extension at its inner end, said extension of the primary jaw extending into the bifurcation of the cam portion, said cam portion being notched on its inner face or edge, said primary jaw adapted to engage the notched portion of the cam portion when the primary jaw has moved to its limit in one direction upon the handle, means carried by the handle of the cam portion for detachably securing the primary jaw upon the handle, an auxiliary jaw pivotally mounted on the primary jaw between, its ends, and said auxiliary jaw provided with a curved portion on its inner face near its rear end that is adapted to travel over the cam portion on the inner end of the handle for creating a clamping action on the jaws and causing the jaws to close together at their outer ends when the handle is swung or moved.

3. In a wrench of the class described, the combination with a handle provided with a cam portion having apertures at one end, said cam portion provided in one side with a groove contiguous to said apertures, a primary jaw provided with an aperture registering with the apertures of the cam portion, an auxiliary jaw pivotally mounted upon the primary jaw, a bolt extending through the registering apertures of the cam portion and the primary jaw, said bolt provided with a head, a locking plate slidably mounted in the groove formed in the cam portion, said plate provided with a slot having an enlarged outer portion, and said enlarged outer portion permitting the head of the bolt to pass therethrough and the bolt normally resting in said slot with said head upon the plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILLIAM M. STOVALL. 

